Incubator



July 5 1927. 1,634,909

J. F. MacKAY INCUBATOR Filed March l. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1/lIlllllll//l//l/ W I TNES? IN V EN TOR @Jahn/finaal: 69 Aiym.

TOR NE YS.

J. F. MaCKAY July 5 1927.

INCUBATOR IN VENTOR Jhz@ F Maf/Kay, BY

W l TNESSES f T TOR NE YS.

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Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED ST JOHN F. MACKAY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

INCUBATOR.

Application Ied March 1. 1924.

This invention relates to incnbators of large capacitv. moreparticularly to those ordinarily termed cabinet ineubators charm-termedb v compartments wherein a multiplicity of trays for supporting the eggsduring inculmtion` are arranged in superposcd relation.y asdistinguished from the type of incnbators with separate or individualincubatinpY chambers for the egg trays and said chambers arranged inserial sequence horizontally.

Amongst the objects of my invention are to secure in a cabinetincubator` uniform llow and distribution of the heating' ineilinnithroughout the incul'iating chambers containing the egg trays so thatthe entire surfaces ol the eggs are at all times exposed to anatmosphere of even temperature and humidity; to enable control of theair circulation through the structure; to alford effective and reliableprotection for the incubating chambers against the influence oiextraneous atmospheric conditions; and to atl'ord an incubator structurein the form of a complete unit (embodying the various features abovepointed out) with provisions permitting addition and connection of otherimitar units it desired Without requiriaganyY alterations whatever inthem.

lllher objects and attendant advantages will be apparent. as thefollowing description proceeds of* a tvpical embodiment of my intention.

ln the drawings Fig. I is an illust/ration showing' in v improvedcabinet incubator p.irtl \v in elevation and partly in longitudinalsection.

itin. H is a sectional plan view of the saine: and

Fie'. lll. an illustration more or less dia- ;rramniatically representedshowing, in perspective` the novel heating system ot' the incubator.

.lis shown. the incubator structure is in the Vl'orm of an enclosurehaving hollow side falls L a hollow back 2. a hollow top fl and a hollowhase 4. The interior of the enclof-ure is designed for use as anincubatingir compartment. and in the present instance is divided hvv acentral hollow wall 5 into two l.pimte tu'. :indici-el th nach provided:it cgfiw site sides with ledges T adapted to separatel \v supper-t aseries of egref travs S in spaced superposed relation. The egg tra'vs Sare constructed with foraniiinited bottoms such Serial No. 696,123.

as' htainable b v use of perforated sheetmetal fr wire mesh` so that airmay freely tiow through them in circulating within the inculwuino;chan'ibers. (eine of the egg trays in t i It hand incubating chamber' 6,as considered in Fig. l, is purposely shown in io bring out the featurejust desect ien ilrcd.

'tie incubatingv chambers 6 are individuy accessible from the front ofthe structhroujgh double doors (see Fig. II), the inner one desiiniatedat 9 being glazed as emvcntionallv represented at 10, and the outer onemarked tt, opaque, and the two i' separated in each instance so as toprofde inter-spaces 12 at the front ot' the ia hater in ended to actnormally as hernmdating' lead air pockets. The I'atei' paipe floors 11not only serve to protcci l coger-i against the action of light as bleduring' certain stages of incuis desiraliation` hit also as safeguardsagainst ra' diation of heat from within the chambers 6 through the`glazed doors l() which would otherwre rcs fit in absence of this proviYsion, tlv mv ininrovet construction, it will i Athatxthe incubatingcliarilie,`4 t' me adefptateiv thef-niowinsulattal on all sides byvirtue ot' the hollow side walls l, thc hollow trent atloriled as justdescribed, and tte hollow heck 2. top i and bottom eh so it unit'cimtemperatures nia \Y be niaintazncd within the enclosure regardless ofextancous conditions.

'l'tfe hollow bottoni Ltv of the structure is k:ultilivided hvdiaphragms Btw-22 prefer- :ihtv oty sheet metal` into a lower space 23.an intermediate horizontal passage, Qt and an ripper space J5` thelatter serving as a fica t air poel-let beneath the tloor of the incuYbali-'in' chambers t, rthe lower space 223 is open to the exteriorthrough y`fratings or eens such as shown at 2o in ltie. I. so that.mtside a'. freely enter` 'l`he cenoiinteruualiate space il.cinninuuicates I with the onter subdivisions4 or pas l otl the sidewalls l. and :it its' ccaV with an inlet 2i through i pass from thelov-er ,sn-acc 2o. arranged to he controlled bv i If ci bultertiv valveL* ca` t' heing' operatcd from the exterior b v "t` t'lll'ftlllltllil`l.l(lll.\ lllll4 "`lltl\\'ll.

nt' ilif con\.'er;e= slope otl the surfaces ot" the diaphragins 2h22troni a central i lc seen lill peint upwardly toward the side walls 1 asshown. nir entering the passage Q4 ot the hase t is obliged to divide inopposite directiens and pass in equal proportions to the outersuhdivisionsv or passages 14 otl the sind side Walls.

iivithn ein-h ot the enter pw il ot' the side mills 1 is leeitted :t verteni Intuit nl' Coils Bt) tor tion: ot' het unter or other suit,Azziiile ilnid heating' ineens. sziid eoiis heingr supplied .from ut-oinnion nixin or ilow pipe 31 extending over the iep ot' theeneiosui'e. und seid innin in turn is supplied troni :L pipe 39 risingttroni n ritter inelet ot' :in appropriate heater shon'n itt 33 in Fie;l. A vulve i-lY is interposed in the lenti to erith ot the eoil hunks3th so that the tion' in thein lusty he indisiduziilii ezintroiied :isnitty l within th required ordesired. Loeztteti e pr'issztge 2i Ot thehollow iietori l ot slruetnre :tre horn/:mimi t'oii l ifs thstt ztrecontinuous with the in 30 a't'orenientionetl. tr ii.) Thee@ horizontalcoil hunls .55. it Wili he ohfferved,

terminate near the center ot the heiiozv hott'oin 4 :t id are theretonneeted te :t return pipe Sii that extent; hormo through said lioitonto the witter izieitet of 1 iniii in. f t i i i er ine uditi oe. .oni,nt itiuii. tipi iti t the Xterior ot' the ineuhitter rees :1 siii 1ipipe 3T that is sui-mounted in' :in egvipztnsion tank 38 with :i tionVi\ or :tuto- (not shori'i ,i nnttieall;v neturttingl e lever 8i) thateontrois, by ineens of chains dell respeetiveiy, cheek :ind draftditinpers eifel-i3 of the heater 33. The tlow :ind retnrn ninins fte'-'t are purposely extended :it the ends reniot e troni the heater 33 andtheir iei'inin "s rinsed by reniovnhie Caps or plugs such its siioefn at14 in Figs. l und IU. )is :t eonsetpienee, other Complete ineuhiitortinits identieitl to the structure herein tleserihed nui); le :id-ded hv simpl)v substitutingl ordinztr'tv pipe eouplings tor the eitps orplugs @li :ind connecting up the lieu' und return pipes` ot theadditional unit or units.

in operation. the :tir thitt enters the horiyontnl passi .n ot teehollow hottoin 4 through the inlet 2T divides`r :ind by the :'tetion otthe sloping diitphr e'nt fturhiet il, 22 is caused to pass interni inepposite directions to the outer sith-dii ion pes- ,ne'es 14 ot the sideWillis it sueh lloif being indueed h): heatingv oi' the nir thretigheontztet with the pipe eniis et the horizontal hunks C55. in moving`upwtirdiy thr ugh the outer passages 1i ot the side mills the sir istui-ther heated it): the Vertical i inks l() ot heating' coilsr` z nd inpassing;r orer the top of the partiti ot Suid ,Aide n'zills.

ons 113 enters the inner passages i5 nir Front thenee the travelsiownmtrdiff in sind inner pz indicated hy the arrows in Fi heatedCondition. the if u'ii'hi i the intuhntine; ehnniiters (3 irst :at `onesf. ie to the top through the trays 8, and then rt\'er-1es its direetionund moves don'nu'zirtijs itt the opposite sides ot' siiiti elntinhei,eireu intimi heine' determined iiv the :site ien ot' thtl inlet :indoutlet tipeningfu lt. ifi, tier eolnpietiiuf the voui-:e in theiiteuiizriing' elianiiiers 'i :is explained. the nir pauses through theopenings 11i into the prnsitgj'e" i8 iti'orded :it eznh side ot :ivertieft 1 in li' in the venti-:tl wizii whieh time terres :ts :teoninien disehitrgi'e duet troni n'hieh the Ispent :tir linziil):esi-apes tiirnngh the outlet 2li zit the tt iheiiioniiie tiztv erse ojthey i i, it: reunen: oi

tnehnie dfiiiipers if) tinit 'o'vern ports 4C lettiA troni the inwimlingelnin'iioers (i. throwl the top ot the enclosure, smid tiann'peisheini); itutenni iezilijf eontroiletl lift' tlierznostzttie derives i?ioeitted Within said ehainhers. These therniostutie tlei'iees la nittyite ot' :any :tpprm ed or stenti" that will permit regulation ter tuv4tioniii; :tutonnttieuily :it the desired temperatures. As thetemperature efieeeds eertitiu def within the ineulziiiinej elimini-ersit, the therniodtittit' defiees ii' etnse li'ltinp; fit the dempers if)to unen-5er the t d theret permit est); ir tiers t. A, :t iev-iin, en n;t

hrough the ineititnter i inseln the temperature within the inefih hersti heron-ies iur-rinfti, f dninpers vli :are :tuonmtier suine theirnornnl or elet-reti prevent tnrther est-:tpe oi itir.

The infiiistnre requisite to `Yr iste-ulmtion ie supplied puns inipotted over the hoi 'v nhs Iiii ie the toitoin T ot the ii 'ir mnu i inreplenishing nll wztter k3 to time. the A he tinnitin the Yforni etdrnwers ,t i troni the i'roz'it ot the structure, the entries of thetit-weL s ttppeztrng' as indiezitetl :il iti in Fin'. Yi. i

Hitting th deisei'ihetl irention. I elitini:

l )in imtor in the tot eiosine ein uisinj iin infihttine et i-ient mtheoliow rif-ils et and down air circulation therethrough, und

coil. banks extending across the incubator bottom and verticall)7 withinthe hollow walls etlcctvc to flow fluid l'icating mcdium in a rcvcrscdircction to that of thc entering' air whcrcbj,v a` circulaiorj.latmolphcre of cvcu tcmpcraturc cnsured.

2. fan inculp in the form ot' an enclosure compran t; an incubatingcompartmcnt having; hollow sid'.x walls cach atliording` up and down aircirculation therethrough 'rom a communicatinol holow bottom` and coilbanks. cociuling aci-os.:Vl thc hollow bottom and vcilicall;` within thchollow walls to flow tiuid heating medium in a reverse dircction to thatot thc cntcringii air whcrcl'iy a circulalt'irv atmosphcrc ot cvcatcmpcrature is cnsurcd.

il. An incubator in tbc l'orin ot an cnclosurc comprisingr an incubatingcompartnicnt having hollow Aidc walls atl'ording up and down aircirculaiion thcrcthroug'h from a conuuunicatinu hollow bottom, heatingaucuns cxtcnding; vcrticallvv within the Side walls, and continuousluiriyioutallgvv olf the hollow bottom, to flow hcatinjij mcdiuin in ari direction to that ol thc entering air whcrcbv a ciiculatorvatmcsphcic of cvcn tompcraturc is ensured.

l. An incubator in thc lcrm ot au cnclosurc coi'nprisinu` anincubating;l compartmcnt having` hollow side walls :tuoi-ding up anddown passugcs coinmunicatincr into a hollow bottoni, and means locatcdin both idc walls and bottom ollcctive to llow heatingr incdiiunrcvcrsclv to opposcdlvv directed currcnts ol air circulating inwardlvvthrough ilic sido walls whcrcby a compartmont atmosphcrc ot' cvcntcmpciwlturc is cnsurcd.

An incubator in thc l'orm of an enclosurc compi-ifin ffy an incubating,rcompartmcnl havinu hollow sido walls atl'or'tling up and down tical-ningpas agjcf# and a hollow bottom. hc outir iutcrspacc olE sail stiflewalls and lotto-in cominunicating. and coninuous incans lof-:limithcrcin M'icicd to floor )catino mciliuii in a rci'crsc direction to hatol.' coloring air whcrcbv a circulator)v a'.- niosphcrc oi' ci'cntcmpcraturc is cnsurcd.

(3. An incubator iu thc torni ot an cnf-losurc al'i'ording' anincubatii'ur ccnnpartiuonf.' having subuliviilcd hollow cnclor-iingwalls pr'widiuif up and down circulatingl pas- 'cs ccnuunnicatintr intoa hollow bottcni. :iu/l :ucvns continuous wihin thc intcrraccs olJ saidwalls and hollow bottoni ct'- Vcclivc io circulatc a hcating' mcdiumwith opposcd tlircctioual How to that oll the outcriuoj au'.

T. .lin incubator iu thc l'orm of an en- ;-o- :rrifiit'iu' 'inincnhat'inf cwnipirtsub-liv cil hollow caclosing' wallsl .-iiorilinf upand flown ci'ciilatiug 'imssagrcx tln` fuir" intcrspa ot' said wallsliaviuf coil baull locatcrl in thcm adapted i= ffii-cat a llow oflicaiiuu1 nzcilium down- Wardly through said outer interspaccs andinwardly bclow thc incubating compartmcnt bottom.

8. An inculnitor in thc torni ot an cn- Closure atl'ordinf;I anincubating compartnicnt having' subdivided hollow sido walls providingup and down circulating passagcs, a hollow bottom communicating into thcouter sub-divisions ot' said side walls, and means comprising heatingmoans extendingrr dim'nwardly through the hollow #idc walls andinwardlnvv across the hollow bottom.

9. A incubator in the i'orm ol an enclosure atloriliuz an incubatingcompartment having sub-dividcd hollow side walls providingf parallcl upand down passages tor conducting air into said incubatingv compartmcnt,a communicatiug hollow bottom, and means co-extorrivo with the hollowside walls and communicating hollow bottom for heating the cnt'criujg;air as woll as inducing circulation through the up and down passagcsVtroni opposite directions before entoriIrLj and ravcrsing' a dcviouscourscr through thc ini-lill: irg; compartment.

it). An incubator in the torni oll an enclnsurc axl'ording an incubatingcomparu Incnt having hollow sub-divided sidc walls scrviiczldc up anddown ducts for con-- ducting air into the incubating compartment, acommunicating` hollow bottom. and incans co-cxtcnsivo with thcI hollowside 'walls an-.l communicating hollow bottom l'unctional to hcat andiuducc llow ol' warm :fir tirst upward and thcn downward in oppoitodircctions within said walls lict'orc cntcriui;v and iravcrsiug; adav'ious coursc, through thc incubating! coinpartincnt.

11. An incubator in thc torni ol au cuclosuri` allordiugi' anincubating' compar inclu having hollow sfidc walls with aconlniunicatiitg hollow bottoni and intcrmcliatc partitions lodctcriniuc travcrsc ol' air through thc intcrsiraccs ol said wallsyIirst npwardl \Y and thcu dowu'wardljvY from oppoo dircctions bciorccntcriiuiI thc incubatA ion' comp: cnt. moanvv co--fY tcnsivc with thcupwardl,` dircctcd wall intcixspaccs and hollow bottoni ctlcctivc loluwt zrl iuilucc circulation ot air. z l a cculral sub-divided hollowwall in said incubating compartment affording ivrirallcl p csconncctingV with a common outlcl t'or disv harg'c of tho spcnt air.

l. An inculmtor in thc l'orm of an cnclosurc atl'ordiug' an incubating'compartment having' hollow sidc walls and a hollow bottoni. a partitionsubdividing cach ol' thc intcrspaccs in .said sido walls. thc sub*divisions communiY ingr ovcr the tops ot' thc rcspcctivc partitions todctcrminc a path For air circulation upwardlyY through thc outcr`vuhdivisiou ot cach wall and continuous downwardl)v iu the inncrsubdivision lll) CII

before entering the incubating compartment and coils located in theouter subdivision ofsub-divided wall between the aforef-:aid conieachwall and hollow bottom to heat the air. .i partrnents, a partitionsubdividing the inter- 13. An incubator in the form of an enclospace ineach side wall, the sul'alivisions comsure affording an incubatingcompartment 1municating over the tops of the respective having hollowsub-divided side walls and apartitions and the outer urbdivisions inhollow bottoni. the outer spaces of the inter-each instancecoinniunicatiugr with the interspaces communicating and determining opinthe bottoni. a control .le inlet posed paths of air circulationtherethrough,through which external air cnn-rs the inter into theincubating compartment, verticalftspace at the bottoni, and healingcoils t'or heating coils in the'side walls, and horizon-linducingdivergent ii'irculation of the air tal coutinuations of said coilsterminating 1 upwardly from the bottoni ol the e.i=.losure through theouter sulalivisions ol the side Side walls and a hollow bottoni. ahollow centrally within the inter-space at the enclosure bottoni. swalls, downwardly through the inner subdi- 14. An incubator in. the formof an enelo-fv visions of the latter into the incibzit'ng sure affordingan incubating compartment? compartments and outwardly through the havinghollow side walls and a hollow bot? central wall aforesaid. tom. theinterspaces communicating, vertical 18. An incubator in the 'torni 0;' aenheating coils in the side walls, supplied from closure affordingseparate incubating conia conunon flow pipe extending horizontally.partinents, said e closure having hollow above the top of the enclosure,and horizonside walls and a hollow bottom, a hollow tal continuations ofsaid coils terminating sub-divided wall between the atorefiaitlcomcentrally in the interspace of the enclosure, partments, a partitionsubdividing the interbottom and there connecting with a common space ineach side wall, the subdivisions conn return pipe extending horizontallythrough niunicating` over the tops otl the respective the enclosurebottom. partitions and the outer subdivi ions in 15. An incubator in theform of an encloeach instance communicatingwith the intersureatl'ordinfr separate incubating conipartspace in the bottoni, acontrollable air inlet ments, said enclosure having hollow sidecentrally ot' the interspace at the bottoni oll walls and a hollowbottom, a central subthe enclosure, detlecting surfaces inclined dividedhollow wall between the aforesaid upwardly from a point over said inlettocoinpartments, a partition subdividing the ward the hollow side walls,and heating interspace in each side wall, heating means coils inducingIdivergent flow of the air (fo-extensive within the hollow bottom andthrough the structure, the air enter-lingl the side walls, thesubdivisions of said Iside walls inlet being diverted by the detlectinglsur-- communicating over the tops of the respecfaces in oppositedirections toward Vthefouter tive partitions and the outer subdivisionsin Isubdivisions of the side walls to llow upeach instance communicatingwith the interwardly in them, thence downwardly in the space in thebottom of the structure to deinner subdivisions of said walls into theintermine divergent flows of warm air circucubating compartments, andfrom thence cxlation from the bottom interspace upwardly haustingupwardly through the hollow dithrough the outer subdivisions 0f the Sid@viding wall aforesaid as a common outlet. walls, and downwardly throughthe inner lt). An incubator in the Ytorni of an enclosubdivisions of thelatter enroute to the incusure affording separate incubati compartbatingcompartments and from thence eX- ments, said enclosure having hollowside hausting through the central wall aforesaid walls and a hollowbottom, a `partition subas a common outlet. dividing the interspace ineach side wall,

1G. An incubator in the form of an enclothe outer interspaces of saidwalls and holsnre affording an incubating compartmll' low bottomcommunicating. a partitioned havii'ig hollow side walls and a hollowbothollow wall between thel compartments toni, an intervening partitionsubdividing aforesaid detining a common spent air outthe interspace ineach side wall, the Subdilet, an air inlet centrally of the bottoniwall, visions comnuinieatingr over the tops 0f the deflecting surfacesinclined upwardly from ref-:pective partitions and the Outer Subdiviapoint above the inlet toward Athe side walls, ,clung in each instance,communicating with and heating means inducing' circulation ot' theinterspace in the bottom. and :l heating the air through the enclosure.the air enter system comprising horizontal coils located ing the inletYbeing diverted by the deflectin the bottoni intcrspacc of the kntlOSHYeing surfaces horizontallv in opuosite direcwith continuations extendingvertically in the outer subdivision of the side walls. said systeminducing opposed directional tlow of heated air into the incubatingcompartment.

lT. An incubator in the form of an enclosure affording separateincubating compartments, said enclosure having hollow tions through thebottoni interspace to the outer intel-spaces ot' the side walls tor con`duction downwardly thrri'ijli innu in terspaces into the incubat gmnipartiuent, thence with devious tlow through said couipartment forupward exhaustion bv way of the hollow dividing wall aforesaid.

l tric Nil 20. Ain incubator in the form of an enclosure allot-ding anincubating compartment having partitioned hollow side walls and acommunicating hollow bottom heating means eti-extensive within thehollow side walls and hollow bottom, a hollow central wall subdividingthe incubating compartment into two separate chambers each adapted toaccommodate a multiplicity of egg trays in superpo--zcd relation` saidcentral wall having a medial partition defining parallel passages,

the iuterspares of' the side walls serving as undulatcd passages forheated air enroute to the respective incubating chambers, and theinteri-paces of the central wall serving as a common outlet for the exitof air from .said incubating chambers.

21. n incubatml in the form of an enclosure alfording a incubatingcompartment having hollow side walls and a hollow central wallsubdividing the incubating compartment into two separate chambers eachadapted to accommodate a multiplicity ot' egg trays in spaced superposedrelation, heating means within the side walls for inducing circulationof air therethrough, the

'interspaces of the side walls serving as passages for air enroute tothe respective incubating chambers, and the interspace of the centralwall serving as a common passage for the exit of air leaving throughopenings at the bottom of said chambers, and a partition in theinterspace of the central wall preventing short circuiting between thesaid apertures,

22. An incubator structure in the form of an enclosure affordingseparate incubation compartments having its side and intermediate wallssub-divided to provide up and down air passages, a hollow bottomsubdivided by superspaced diaphragms affording connection between theside walls, heating means co-cxtcnsive within the side Walls and hollowbottom for inducing air circulation therethrough, and means providingdead air pockets aboutA the enclosure to protect the incuba ingcompartments on all sides against extraneous temperature influence.

it. An incubator in the lform of an enclosure comprising seyairateincubating compartments, raid enclosure having hollow partitioned sidewalls affording up and down p:r-\-age::` a hollow sub-divided wallbetween the compartments delining upward spent air outlets, a hollowbottom with diaphragnis etting apart a lower space in directcommunication with the exterior, an intermediate passage communi 'atingwith the outer inlerspaces otl the side walls and housing coextensiveheating means for inducing divergent air circulation through theenclosure, said interspace being provided centrally with an inlet toadmit fresh air from the underlying space, and a third subdivisionsetting apart a dead air space between the floor of' the incubatingcompartment and the intermediate passage of the bottom.

24. An incubator in the form of an enclosure affording an incubatingcompartment having hollow side walls, each with a vertical subdividingpartition, a hollow central wall with a vertical subdividing partition,and a hollow bottom comniunicating directly with the outer subdivisionsof the side walls and having a central `fresh air inlet, heating means,and a valve to govern the inlet so that circulation of air through theenclosure induced by heating may be controlled, the air dividing in thehollow bottom toward the side walls flowing upwardly in the outersubdivisions of the latter then over the tops of the respectivepartitions in them and then downwardly in their inner subdivisions, andrespectively into the incubating chambers, then after circulating insaid chambers entering the respective subdivisions of the central hollowwall at the bottom and escaping through an outlet in the top of theenclosure.

25. An incubator in the form of an enclosure affording an incubatingcompartment having hollow side walls and a hollow bottom, theinterspaces of the side walls communicating with that of the bottom andforming undulated passages for heated air enroute to the incubatingcompartment, a horizontal bank of' heating coils in the bottom withcontinuations extending vertically within the interspaces of the sidewalls, and moisture pans overlying the coils in said hotlow bottom, saidpans being in the form of drawers removable from the front of theincubator.

26. A cabinet incubator comprising a scries of separate enclosures eachhaving a hollow side wall communicating with the lower interspace in ahollow bottom and sub-divided by a vertical hollow partition to at'-ford juxtapositioned incubating chambers, each said chamber beingadapted to accommodate a series of egg trays in superposed relation.means cti-extensive with the hollow side walls and communicating hollowhot toni for effecting circulation of (,tpposedly flowing currents of'heated air through the side walls and inwardly of the juxtaposilionedincubating chambers with a devious flow, and thermostatically controlledmeans l'or governing the temperature of each individual incubatingchamber.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania this th day of February, 1924.

JOHN F. MACKAY.

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